Ostrava marks 70th anniversary of WWII liberation

The city of Ostrava marks the 70th anniversary of its liberation during
WWII on Thursday April 30. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka will launch
events with a commemoration service which will be followed by military
parade by units of the Czech army and a series of cultural events in the
country’s third biggest city. Ostrava was liberated after a fierce battle
by Red Army units from the 4th Ukrainian Front and members of the
Czechoslovak Brigade. The city was staunchly defended by Nazi units as
Moravia and Silesia still accounted for around 35% of remaining Nazi
industrial production. The loss of the area was seen by some Nazi leaders
as the final confirmation that the war was all but over.

Night Wolves organiser says members will mark Ostrava liberation

One of the organisers of the Russian motorcycle gang, the Night Wolves, has
said members will be present in the city of Ostrava to market the 70th
anniversary of the city’s liberation from the Nazis at the end of WWII.
Andrei Bobrovsky made the announcement on the Russian radio station Govorit
Moskva. Czech police, however, say they have no knowledge of any members of
the motorcycle group, known as partisans of President Vladimir Putin, being
on Czech soil. According to Russian news sources part of the Night Wolves
contingent entered the European Union through Hungary and intend to regroup
at Bratislava, Slovakia, and then head towards Berlin for the anniversary
of the end of WWII in Europe. Poland said it would not allow the bikers to
cross the country but Slovakia has said it will not bar them.

Government approves state budget deficit for 2016

The Czech government has approved a state budget deficit of 70 billion
crowns for 2016. Under the agreement reached civil servants’ pay will
rise by three percent and expenditures on science and research will
increase by 1.5 billion crowns against the original proposal of 28.1
billion, the head of the ANO party deputies’ Jaroslav Faltýnek said. Mr
Faltýnek said the agreement was a partial compromise, adding that the
70-billion-crown deficit was good news. PM Bohuslav Sobotka said after the
cabinet meeting that the government had agreed to seek extra funds for
security, pensions, science and research and co-financing rural development
programmes.

President Zeman says will veto higher 150 km/h speed limit

President Miloš Zeman has said he will veto a proposal law which would,
under certain circumstances, increase the speed limit on Czech motorways
from 130 km/h to 150 km/h. Zeman said during an ongoing tour of the Central
Bohemia region that he opposed any move that could increase road fatalities
and injuries. He added that Czech motorways did simply not compare for
quality with German ones The proposal to increase the speed limit, if
weather and road conditions are acceptable, on certain sections of motorway
has been backed by the lower house of parliament

Battle over school head scarf ban likely to end in courts: report

A Muslim girl who was banned from wearing a head scarf by a Czech nursing
school is seeking an apology and compensation, her lawyer has told Czech
Television. The girl, originally from Somalia, and other students from
Afghanistan have reported ended their studies at the school. The
broadcaster reported Thursday that the girl’s lawyer has taken the first
steps towards starting legal proceedings against the school. The school’s
ban divided opinion in the Czech Republic. The girl’s rights were
defended by the Ombudsman but attacked by many politicians including head
of state, president Miloš Zeman. He said that Czech cultural traditions
should be respected.

The European Commission should resolve next week whether to push ahead with
proceedings against the Czech Republic for the high proportion of Roma
children in so-called practical schools, the Commissioner for human rights
and consumers Věra Jourová has said. She added that her staff are
currently evaluating arguments presented by the Czech Republic and other
sources. The Commission started proceedings last September over alleged
ongoing discrimination in schools against the Roma minority. The next stage
would allow the government to take corrective action. If it failed to do
so, Brussels could start proceedings against the country in the European
Court of Justice. The Czech government says it has stopped sending Roma to
special schools for those with learning difficulties. But critics say the
practical schools are just another name for the same thing.

Survey suggests around a third of Czechs suffer from depression and face
breakdown

Around three out of 10 Czechs say they suffer from depression and around
the same proportion believe they face a breakdown. The figures were
released following a survey carried out by the psychiatric clinic of
Charles University and the STEM opinion poll agency. It found three out of
10 Czechs between 25 and 65 said they suffered from depression. The highest
risk groups were those between 35 and 44 and those over 51. Around 10
percent said they had considered ending their lives. The survey found 34
percent of respondents said they thought they faced a mental breakdown with
around 20 percent saying they had seen clear signs of this. Four out of 10
Czechs saying they faced a breakdown were in jobs with heavy
responsibilities.

Norwegian authorities take step towards adoption of Czech boy

The Norwegian child welfare service has taken initial steps to open the way
for the adoption of the younger of two Czech brothers who were taken from
their parents in 2011. Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek said on
Wednesday. The authorities took the step despite previous claim that
adoption was not being considered. According to information received by the
Czech Office for International Legal Protection of Children in April, the
child welfare service asked the regional authorities to launch the
proceedings that would enable the adoption of the younger son of Eva
Michaláková. The boys were taken from their parents over alleged sexual
abuse. Although charges were never filed in the case, the brothers have
lived in separate foster homes since.

Petr Čech helps Chelsea to verge of English league title

Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech featured in Chelsea’s 3:1 victory against
Leicester on Wednesday night. The result means that Chelsea need only one
win from the last four games to secure the league title as only third
placed Arsenal have a faint chance of overtaking them. Čech was making a
rare appearance in goal for the club due to first choice ‘keeper Thibaut
Courtois being unavailable. Home team Leicester took the lead late in the
first half before Chelsea struck three goals without reply in the second
half.

Hockey: Lightning down Red Wings in Game 7

The Tampa Bay Lightning won Game 7 on home ice against the Detroit Red
Wings on Wednesday putting them into the second round of the Stanley Cup
playoffs. The goalies for both sides kept the puck out of the net for two
periods but Detroit rookie Petr Mrázek was beaten in the third by a
slapshot over the shoulder, top corner, by Braydon Coburn. Goaltending was
a key factor throughout the match and the series, with Mrázek earning two
shutouts against the Bolts. On Wednesday, Mrázek was named the game’s
third star.